How to Repair a Failed Mitral Valve Ring

The mitral valve of your heart is an opening that allows oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to flow from one chamber of your heart, the left atrium, into another chamber, the left ventricle. The left ventricle then pumps the oxygen-rich blood out of your heart into the bloodstream so that the rest of your body can get oxygen.

The mitral valve's job is to open and close the two flaps that create its "door," so that blood does not flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium. The mitral valve is assisted in this work by a saddle-shaped ring of tissue supporting it, the mitral valve ring, or annulus. If the mitral valve develops problems, you may have to undergo surgery so that an artificial mitral valve ring can be installed to assist your natural mitral valve ring.

Instructions

• 1

  Contact your general practitioner if you experience chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, ongoing fatigue that prevents you from performing daily activities, swollen ankles or feet or a large abdominal swelling. These symptoms may signal that your mitral valve is not functioning properly. Your general practitioner will rule out other medical conditions, and refer you to a cardiologist if necessary.

• 2

  Make an appointment with the cardiologist. Your cardiologist will send you for various medical tests that will take pictures of your heart. If your mitral valve is damaged, your cardiologist will refer you to a cardiovascular surgeon who can repair the valve.

• 3

  Get a second opinion from another cardiologist if your first cardiologist suggests that you have surgery. Because heart surgery is complicated, it is important to be certain that your diagnosis is correct. Ask both cardiologists if surgery can be avoided if you are willing to make some lifestyle changes, such as taking medication, getting more exercise, giving up smoking and alcohol and eating healthy foods.

• 4

  Schedule surgery if both of your cardiologists find that your mitral valve problem cannot be managed by lifestyle changes alone. Ask your cardiovascular surgeon to help you locate materials that explain the recommended operation in detail. One example of such materials is a report found on Medtronic.com entitled "A Patient's Guide to Heart Valve Surgery." This report can be accessed via the References section of this article.

• 5

  Review materials on the type of surgery recommended for you. If your valve is not badly damaged, your cardiac surgeon can fix the damaged parts of your mitral valve and then sew an annuloplasty ring, an artificial mitral valve ring composed of durable plastic, metal and fabric, onto your natural mitral valve ring. The annuloplasty ring helps your natural mitral valve ring or annulus maintain its normal shape, flexibility and motion. If your mitral valve is severely injured, your cardiac surgeon will replace your entire mitral valve and ring with either a tissue valve from a human, pig or cow heart, or with a prosthetic valve made from carbon, metal or plastic.

• 6

  Plan to spend at least two hours in surgery, several hours in the hospital's intensive care unit and then one to seven days in a routine care bed. Schedule follow-up visits with your cardiologist to make sure that your new mitral valve ring is working properly.